Dear Mr President,
I miss you very much. It’s true.
It has been a long
year since last May 2011—many incidents, many were unfortunately unpleasant and
unnecessary, have unfolded themselves after our fate is sealed with the outcome
of the election.
And it is through
these unfortunate events that I miss your voice the most. For it hasn’t been
that long since you mentioned putting Singaporeans first during your presidency
campaign.
For the events
that took place in the aftermath of the May election, I understand that you
were not in the position yet, to speak as a representation of us.
Nevertheless, you were sworn into office in September. Few months later, 3 MRT disruptions
that took place in December 2011, all within a span of 4 days, affecting more
than 200 000 commuters during peak hours and these are the people who rely
solely on the trains for their daily commute to work. They are not what Saw
Phiak Hwa, former SMRT CEO has described, who have a choice to whether or not
to board the trains. Commuters who could not indulge in a private car like you
do but compelled to board the trains regardless of the state and the
reliability of the trains.
While a trapped passenger broke glass panes for vital ventilation in the train carriage, stranded
passengers ploughing through the dark tunnel to see the light at the end of it
and wasting precious family time after work trying to find alternative means to
get home safely…..disappointingly, as our elected president, your voice did not
come through for your people.
You were on an
official visit to the UK at that point of time to reach out for fellow overseas
Singaporeans, and even though it is true that there is nothing you could actually
offer to salvage the situation, however, the least you could do, as the highest
head of our nation, even though the prescribed president role is ceremonious,
it is neither against the constitution to use the voice in you when you have
one, to express your empathy, sympathy and concern towards the grievances of your
people at such times.
Your silence during
such time is therefore appalling.
While appreciating
the fact that you took time to grace the 2012 Countdown Event at Marina Bay and
without any doubt, one should always live forward in hope, it is unfortunately a
little less joyous for the fact that the hot button issues that were strongly
voiced out during the May election campaign on rising living-housing-medical costs
and most importantly, our immigration policy, resurfaced promptly after the
election in May 2011.
CPF minimum sum
was raised to $131 000 in July, electricity tariffs increase followed suit in
the same month, followed by public transport and taxi fare hike in Oct and Dec
respectively.
On immigration
policy, it ticks like a time-bomb, as various leaders dropped hints directly or
indirectly, one to the extent of blaming tertiary educated women for reluctance
to start family as the underlying reason for the need of big influx of
immigration. We can be certain that EVEN more foreign workers will still be washed
to our shores despite our strong protests last May.
These issues that
will impact the future of our nation and people gave few reasons for us to
remain hopeful for our future beyond 2011.
Singaporeans
first, was what you emphasized during your campaign.
How would the tsunamis
wave of foreign workers at all levels, convince Singaporeans that they are
being prioritized in their very own homelands? Despite threats or repeated
chants from current ministers and former ones, of the dire need of foreign
workers, without which our nation and economy will be doomed, people feel
otherwise on the grounds.
I remain
unconvinced that you can choose to be silent, again, on this “life-threatening”
issue for Singaporeans, in terms of jobs, housing and education competition.
In Mar 2012, a Chinese
scholar whose 8 years of education are funded by our taxes, labelled
Singaporeans as dogs in public. It was only just revealed in the Parliament
before this incident took place, that each of such scholarship worth of $176
000 EACH YEAR is borne by taxpayers. Alarmingly, 2000 of these scholarships are
given out each year. Each scholarship granted to an overseas student deprives a
scholarship for our local students. Whether local students are up to the
standard of the scholarships is one matter, but the fact is that one of these locally-sponsored
foreign scholars, took to openly humiliating his host country, showing nothing
but contempt and ingratitude of the monies that were invested in him, out of
our pockets.
Not sure if you
are aware of the bottled up resentment of this preferential treatment towards
foreign students over local ones. It would be reassuring if we could hear you
saying “Singaporean First” again on this matter.
But you chose
silence again during a time when people seek reassurance that they will not be
marginalized by foreigners. It is a wonder again, what is meant by your
definition of Singaporeans First.
I know you have to
allocate your limited time for gracing various ceremonies, as well as the installation
as the new Chief Scout, holding receptions for foreign dignitaries, making
speeches and holding tea sessions and while not trivializing your positive influence
in these involvements, for I firmly believe that being appointed as the Chief
Scout is of equal importance as addressing
our sentiments on disproportionate investment of our resources on foreign students/workers.
It would not be
too difficult to squeeze a little time out of your busy schedule for your
people, to address our concerns of the issues on the grounds that impact us
personally and individually even though these may appear trivial to you, for a
person who is granted a life-long social security that is made only available
to the few privileged political holders and certain group of civil servants, may
not be truly grasp the worries of the common civilians like us, on our
uncertain future against the backdrop of the never-ending influx of immigrants
and stubborn rising living costs.
In short, I miss
your voice.
Hougang SMC lost
its MP in February 2012 and its seat has since then been vacant for almost two
months. Whether you agree or disagree on the conduct of Hougang’s former MP is
a non-issue over here, as a non-partisan president, your first and foremost
concern should be the welfare of Hougang’s 25 000 residents. Did you or could
you have a word with our PM to prompt him to move on swiftly with the by-election?
If he could move on with Wong Kan Seng’s failure of keeping Mas Selamat in prison,
he could likewise do the same with Hougang. Afterall, PM has the welfare of our
people at heart.
Could you lend us
your voice on this matter?
I miss you so
much. For your silence is indeed excruciating.
